March 21, 2019 WILD THINKINGLocal students learn about the importance of wildlife corridorsby Jim Anderson, The Source Weekly

Bend, Ore. - I get invited to lots of places to speak, but my favorite locations are schools. The bright young minds of kids who ask great questions keep me young, despite my 91 years. A recent Monday morning, found me in the classroom of Anne-Marie Eklund at Cascades Academy in Tumalo. We were joined by Michelle van Hilten, program administrator of Think Wild. The topic of discussion: Human/wildlife interaction—Think Wild's primary area of interest......Click here to read more.

November 29, 2018 NEW LIFE BREATHED INTO WILDERNESS RESCUE THINK WILDby Peter Madsen, The Bend Bulletin

Bend, Ore. -Since age 4, Payton Johnston has been devoted to wildlife rescue.Her compassion started when her mother, Amanda Johnston, taught her to care for birds that flew into their home’s windows in La Pine. Now 12, Payton not only helps her mother with wildlife rescues, including animals entangled in fences and struck by cars, but she also writes regular preventive blog posts on the website of Think Wild, a nonprofit wildlife rescue center opening in spring 2019....Click here to read more.

September 28, 2018 THINK WILD HIRES FULL-TIME PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR TO LEAD EDUCATION, PROGRAMMING AND OPERATIONAL INITIATIVES

Bend, Ore. - With much excitement, Think Wild welcomes Michelle van Hilten as its first full-time staff person to execute on the organization's mission and strategic objectives to educate Central Oregon citizens on the prevention of wildlife conflicts and the conservation of wildlife habitats. Click here to learn more.

August 8, 2018 THINK WILD SECURES COUNTY APPROVAL FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT

Bend, Ore. - After a 4 month review and petition process with Deschutes County, Think Wild has received notice of the County's decision to grant a conditional use permit for 62410 Erickson Road to operate as a wildlife rescue & rehabilitation facility in a MUA-10 zone.

July 2, 2018 THINK WILD LAUNCHES "PAYTON'S WILDLIFE TIPS"

Long time volunteer and serious wildlife lover and hero, 11 year old Payton J. has started sharing monthly wildlife tips and advice for young and old. Learn more at Payton's Wildlife Tips.

May 15, 2018

For Immediate Release

THINK WILD ANNOUNCES LEAD GIFT TO BUILD NEW WILDLIFE HOSPITAL

Bend, Ore. - Leaders of Think Wild, a non-profit organization providing wildlife education and Wildlife Hotline services in Central Oregon, recently announced they have received a $325,000 funding commitment toward building a native wildlife hospital and full-time Wildlife Hotline and education in Bend. The lead gift comes from the Otter Cove Foundation, through a local resident who prefers to remain anonymous.

The lead gift from the Otter Cover Foundation also comes with a challenge to raise an additional $325,000 in order to establish three years of operating support for the new facility. Friends and supporters of wildlife gathered Thursday to plan a Think Wild Founders Circle in order to meet the $325,000 challenge. The event was attended by a number of wildlife professionals who endorsed the Think Wild plan and expressed their support.

At the event, local wildlife rehabilitator Gary Landers spoke to the unique and needed role Think Wild can play in coordinating the region's response to injured wildlife. “Our goal for Central Oregon wildlife rehabilitation is to have a central place where 7 days a week, 365 days a year the public can call and get help for injured wildlife,” he said. “Think Wild can fill a need in our community by creating a hub and fostering the cooperative spirit of rehabilitators for the benefit of wildlife.”

Think Wild’s leaders are currently working on designing, planning and building a facility with space to coordinate care for injured and orphaned native birds and mammals in partnership with the regional area wildlife rehabilitators. Early plans for Think Wild also include a full-time Wildlife Hotline and community outreach campaign focused on conflict prevention, allowing Think Wild to fulfill its vision to provide a voice for Central Oregon’s native wildlife.

“We are excited by the opportunity given by our lead donor to pursue the goal of building a wildlife hospital,” said Reese Mercer, Think Wild Board Member who is leading formation of the Founders Circle. “We look forward to working with others to make this dream a reality.”

To learn more about Think Wild’s plans for the future visit www.thinkwildco.org. You can also visit Think Wild on Facebook at facebook.com/thinkwildco, with additional information at facebook.com/centraloregonwildlife. Those interested in becoming part of the Think Wild Founder's Circle are encouraged to contact Reese Mercer or Terri Libert, at thinkwildco@gmail.com, (458) 206-3474.

Important News about Think Wild!

Think Wild is in early conversations about building a Wildlife Hospital and Education Center. This facility would provide:

A wildlife hospital to treat and rehabilitate native birds and mammals

A voice for native wildlife to strengthen advocacy for conservation

An education center to teach and inspire the public to live respectfully with urban wildlife

Currently, there is no wildlife hospital providing treatment and rehabilitation of native species in Central Oregon. As the human population in Central Oregon continues to grow, conflict with wildlife will become more and more common.

As an enduring organization, Think Wild will create a central resource that provides a lasting and substantial impact on wildlife care. Think Wild will partner with local individual rehabbers to leverage expertise, coordinate resources, and fill gaps for wildlife care in perpetuity.

Contributors to the Think Wild Founders Circle have committed or pledged a minimum of $10,000 over three years, and we are making strong progress in reaching the threshold for being able to launch within the next 12 months. We look forward to sharing news about our fundraising progress on this page.